RANDY Petalcorin’s potential to be a world champion will be gauged when he dangles his Pan-Asian Boxing Association light flyweight belt against Thai Samartlek Chaiyong-gym at the Mandaluyong City Gym on Saturday.
The 12-round showdown will headline the Pinoy Knockout card being staged by AKTV in its continuing search for the next Filipino boxing talent.
Only 20, the 5-foot-3 Petalcorin, a southpaw, totes a record of 16 wins, 1 loss with 13 knockouts and is deemed a prime prospect to give the country another world crown in two years. He took the WBC Asia Boxing Council Continetal title via a first round of Thai Yodching chair Sithkonnapha last June.
Though Chaiyong-gym is an inch shorter and only holds an 8-3 slate with three knockouts, he’s no pushover having beaten by unanimous decision former IBF minimum weight champion Muhammad Rachman on Jan. 24, 2011.
According to American trainer Richard Staheli, who guided Manny Pacquiao to his first world title in 1998, Petalcorin is “a rare combination of speed and power” and “definitely will win the fight.”
The Petalcorin-Chaiyong-gym bout will be aired via satellite starting at 9 p.m. on AKTV, the official free TB broadcaster of the 2012 London Olympics, on IBC 13.
Also scheduled are four Philippine Boxing Federation title fights, according to promoter Gerry Garcia.
Jhuriel Ramonal and Ariel Delgado will figure in a grudge rematch for the super bantamweight championship while Rene Bestudio and Leonardo Doronio dispute the featherweight title. Rex Olisa clashes with Richard Pumicpic for the bantamweight crown while Edison Berwela and Jaymart Toyco tangle for the flyweight title.
Present during the launch of the boxing series are AKTV’s Vito Lazatin and Peachy Guioguio and Games and Amusement Board’s Dr. Nasser Cruz and promoter Moy Lainez.
The fights are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Admission is free. Roy Luarca